Bungaree facts for kids
Bungaree, also spelled Boongaree (c. 1775 – 24 November 1830), was a famous Indigenous Australian explorer, diplomat, and community leader. He came from the Awabakal and Garigal peoples of the Broken Bay area on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Bungaree was a clever negotiator who worked closely with British voyagers. He was the very first person recorded as an "Australian" in official documents. He was also the first person born on the Australian continent to travel all the way around it by ship.
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Who Was Bungaree and How Did He Grow Up?
Bungaree was born around 1775 in the beautiful coastal lands north of Broken Bay. His father was likely a member of the Garigal group, and his mother was an Awabakal person from the lower Hunter River district. Living along waterways, Bungaree learned how to fish, build canoes, and survive in nature.
In the 1790s, Bungaree moved south into the new settlement of Sydney. He made many friends among both his own people and the British arrivals. Bungaree was clever, curious, and skilled at languages. He soon proved that he was a gifted peacemaker. He began sailing on ships, quickly earning respect as a brave and valuable sailor.
First Sea Voyages with British Sailors
Bungaree became an important explorer by joining oceanic journeys. He could talk to different groups of people and help calm tensions.
Journey to Norfolk Island
In 1798, Bungaree joined the crew of the naval ship HMS Reliance. Another young Indigenous voyager named Nanbaree sailed with him. The ship travelled across rough ocean waters to Norfolk Island. During this trip, Bungaree worked alongside officer Matthew Flinders, who quickly noticed Bungaree's bravery and intelligence.
Exploring Hervey Bay on the Norfolk
In 1799, Bungaree joined Matthew Flinders and his brother Samuel on the smaller sloop Norfolk. They set sail north to map out the waters of Hervey Bay. Bungaree served as an expert guide and peace envoy.
Even when coastal groups spoke different dialects, local people wanted to speak with Bungaree rather than the British officers. Bungaree understood how to show respect. In Moreton Bay, he gave away gifts like a hunting spear and spear thrower. He even taught local groups how to use them.
The crew landed at Bribie Island to meet the local Djindubari people. Misunderstandings between the sailors and the islanders led to a brief argument over a hat. Bungaree tried hard to keep the peace. The area was called Point Skirmish, and a modern town there was later named Bongaree in his honour.
Bungaree's greatest adventure began in 1802. Captain Matthew Flinders asked Bungaree to join his crew on Investigator. Their mission was to sail completely around Australia and map its entire coastline. Flinders wanted everyone to name the whole continent "Australia", and he knew Bungaree was essential for the voyage.
Overcoming Great Challenges at Sea
The young Cadigal sailor Nanbaree also started on this journey. However, Nanbaree became terribly homesick after reaching the Cumberland Islands and returned home on a supply vessel. Bungaree stayed aboard the ship to continue the grand journey.
Historian Keith Vincent Smith showed that Bungaree was a great diplomat. Whenever the crew landed near cautious groups, Bungaree stepped ashore first. He would remove his European clothes to show he was peaceful and unarmed. His calm manner stopped many fights before they began. Flinders wrote warmly about Bungaree's good spirit, bravery, and friendship with the ship's famous cat, Trim.
The expedition stopped along the coasts of what are now Queensland and the Northern Territory. Bungaree made friends with local groups at K'gari, Shoalwater Bay, and Caledon Bay. In Arnhem Land, the ship met an Indonesian sea captain named Pobasso, who led a Makassan sea cucumber fishing fleet. Bungaree watched these early international trading meetings take place.
Returning to Sydney Harbour
Many sailors became sick with scurvy because they lacked fresh fruit and vegetables. Flinders sailed the ship to the Dutch port on Timor so Bungaree and the crew could rest. After a short stop at the Recherche Archipelago, the ship returned to Sydney in 1803. Bungaree had officially completed the circumnavigation of his homeland.
Life in Newcastle and Later Voyages
Quick facts for kids Bungaree |
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|---|---|
| Chief of the Broken Bay Tribe | |
Portrait by Augustus Earle
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| Reign | 1815 – 1830 |
| Born | Boongaree c. 1775 New South Wales |
| Died | 24 November 1830 Garden Island |
| Burial | Rose Bay |
| Consort | Cora Gooseberry |
| Spouse | Matroa |
| Issue |
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| Occupation | Explorer, Entertainer |
In 1804, Governor Philip Gidley King sent Bungaree to a new settlement named King's Town, which is today called Newcastle. Because Bungaree's mother belonged to the local Awabakal people, he was great at keeping good relations between the locals and newcomers.
Officer Charles Menzies praised Bungaree for creating a friendly atmosphere. Sadly, this time was also painful for Bungaree's family, as his father was killed during an encounter with escaped convicts near Sydney.
In 1818, Bungaree sailed with Captain Phillip Parker King to explore north-western Australia aboard Mermaid. Bungaree showed the sailors which wild plants were safe to eat and found clean drinking water. He was also an expert fisherman who supplied the whole crew with fresh seafood. Captain King described Bungaree as very smart and extremely kind.
Leader and Famous Sydney Personality
In 1815, Governor Lachlan Macquarie presented Bungaree with a farm of 15 acres at Georges Head. Macquarie gave him a decorative brass breastplate inscribed with the words "Chief of the Broken Bay Tribe". Bungaree's wife was known as Queen Cora Gooseberry. Bungaree had three children with his wife Matora, including a son named Boin who later sailed to North America during the famous gold rush.
Bungaree was famous around Sydney for welcoming newly arrived ships. He wore fancy old military uniforms and grand hats given to him by officers. He loved doing funny impressions of British governors and entertaining crowds with great humour. Bungaree also taught visitors how to throw a returning boomerang and helped organise corroboree dance gatherings. In 1820, the Russian explorer Faddei Bellingshausen met Bungaree when his ship Vostok sailed into port. Bungaree became the subject of eighteen painted portraits, making him one of the most painted men in early Australia.
Remembering Bungaree's Legacy
Bungaree passed away on Garden Island on 24 November 1830. He was buried at Rose Bay next to his wife Matora. Newspapers like the Sydney Gazette and The Australian published warm stories remembering his adventurous life.
Bungaree is remembered today in many places across Australia:
- Boongaree Island in the Kimberley region was named after him.
- The seaside town of Bongaree on Bribie Island carries his name.
- A headland on the Central Coast was long called Bungaree's Norah, now known as Norah Head.
- The navy ship HMAS Bungaree served during the Second World War.
- A modern public ferry was named the Bungaree in Sydney Harbour.
- A public statue celebrating Bungaree, alongside Flinders and Trim the cat, was unveiled on Bribie Island in 2023.
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